Catapult for throwing life-lines



(No Model.)

P. W. OLAYPOOL.

GATAPULT FOR THROWING LIFE LINES Patented Oct. 31, 1882..

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PHILIP IV. GLAYPOOL, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CATAPULT FOR THROWING LIFE-LINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,772, dated October31, 1882,

Application filed April 3,1882. (N0 model.)

I 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PHILIP W. CLAYPOOL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Donver, in the county ofArapahoe and State of Colorado have invented a new and useful Life-Saving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to such machines or apparatus as are put inoperation by rescuers from a place of safety, rather than by those to berescued from a place of danger; and the objects of my invention are,first, to provide an apparatus which, being operated by firemen or otherrescuers, will enable them with certainty, in the shortest time and withsafety to themselves, to give to persons in danger, from whom othermeans of escape are cutoff, a sure, speedy, and safe means of escapefrom the interior of burning buildings, from sinking vessels, and otherplaces of danger; and, second, to provide the means whereby such anapparatus maybe quickly, rapidly, and safely transported from place toplace. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of theentire apparatus; Fig. 2, a top view of the apparatus, with a portion ofthe flooring of the platform removed to show the improved method ofcoupling, hereinafter particularly described. Fig.

3, a vertical section of the apparatus, showing the changes in theposition of the parts thereof, which occur in the operation of the same;I i". 4, a front view of the nippers, hook, and cup, the two latterbeing in section; Fig. 5, a side view of the same partly broken away;and Fig. 6, a sectional view of the funnel-shaped releasing device forthe nippers.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The mechanism rests upon four wheels, which may be of the same size, or(as represented in the drawings) like ordinary wagon-wheels, the hindones larger than the fore ones. On the axles on which the wheelsrevolve, and supported by bolsters sufliciently high to enable the forewheels to turn under the body of the frame-work, and to permit of thefree and unobstructed operation of the mechanism, rests a frame-work, AA, which is held in place by the four leveling screws marked 13, whichpass through nuts embedded in the frame, and, having a cup or head atthe lower end, are held in place on the bolsters byiron collars embeddedin and securely fastened by bolts or screws to the bolsters. Theframe-work is further secured and the coupling of the hind and forewheels completed by the braces O, (I, and 0, only one of each of whichis shown in the drawings. The braces G extend from the fore and hindaxles to points in the center, perpendicularly under that part of theframe which marks the boundaries of operation of the sectorwheels shownin the drawings. and are secured to the fame by the braces d. The bracese extend from the junction of O and (I to the upper corners of thebolsters on which the frame rests, and are there secured to thebolsters. The braces (I are mortised into the frame and the braces Ginto the axles. By this combination the jumping or jolting of the frameoff the bolsters is prevented by the screws B, while a lateral orsliding motion of the frame, to some extent hindered by the same screws,is wholly prevented by the braces O, (I, and c, and the coupling of thehind and fore wheels rendered perlect and complete. To the fore axle isattached a tongue with double and single trees in the ordinary manner.

Upon the forward part of the frame A (directly in the rear of the placewhere the forward brace d is mortised in the 1'ran1e)is fastened agearing, F F, which, operated by the cranks G G, moves the sector-wheelsII II, revolving on the axle I, to which they are attached by the arms Jand J, the axle I being fastened on the frame immediately in front ofthe place where the rear brace (I is mortised into the frame, and beingrendered stationary and immovable, when required, by the dogs .10,working in slots or cogs I on the surface of the axle.

To the axle I, and between the sector-wheels H H, are attached two ormore strong steel springs, K K, in such a manner thatwhen unsprung theirnatural position would be in the same plane asthe upper arms, J,ot' thesectorwheels H H. The springs K are united at their free ends by the baror band L, on which rests, and to the upper side of which is fastened,the cup M, which holds the hall to which is attached the line or rope tobe thrown to the point desired where the danger exists. A l theleveling-screws, the desired elevation ob brace, N, uniting the upperarms, J, of the sector-wheels H, arrests the progress of the springs Kand prevents their springing beyond the plane of the arms J.

To the lower part of the band or bar L is attached a book, 0, which iscaught by nippers P, which, by means of a bar, Q, are attached to arope, R, to be wound on the Windlass S by the crank T through the funnelU. Thewindlass S is secured to the lower arms, J, of the sector-wheelsH. The funnel U is screwed into a bar, j, joining the arms J of thesector- J wheels H, just above the Windlass S, (see Figs.

3 and (5,) the funnel U closing the arms of the nippers as the'latterenter the funnel in their descent, and releasing the springs K anddischarging the ball. The arms of the nippers are made of difi'erentlengths, and thus the springs K maybe loosed at any point on the lineextending from where the nippersP catch the hook O to where the rope Itis wound on the Windlass S, thus loosing the springs at any desiredpoint and giving the ball any desired impetus. v

That part of the frame not occupied by the gearing sector-wheels andsprings is floored over, and at convenient places thereon,in lightmovable cans with flaring sides, are placed coils of lines or ropes withballs attached, the particular line to be firstthrown being placed onthe rear of the frame in the center. In diagonally-opposite corners ofthe frame are embedded four levels, two in each corner, (one at thefront end, one at each side, and one at the hind end,) and by means ofthe levelingscrews B, passing through nuts in each corner of the frame,the same can be made level,whatever be the inequalities of the surfaceon which the wheels rest.

In practicethe apparatus should be used as follows: It should be kept inreadiness for removal at an instants notice, with the sectorwheelselevated as far as possible and made stationary by the dogs 00, thenippersP caught on the book 0, and the rope 1t held taut by the WindlassS, as shown by Fig. 1 in the drawings. Having been rapidly hauled to thescene of operations, the apparatus should be turned with the rear towardthe place where the danger exists. The apparatus can be then turned oraimed in any direction by simply backing thehorses. Thedirectionhavingbeen obtained, the frame may be rapidly leveled by meansof tained by the gearing operating in the sectorwheels, the ball towhich the line is attached placed in the cup, and the springs broughtdown by the rope and Windlass till they are loosed by the nippers beingdrawn into the funnel, when the ball carrying the line will be thrown tothe desired place.

Should it be deemed desirable to have the horses face the place ofdanger, the same apparatus reversed could be used that is, with the forepart of the frame placed where, in the drawings, the rear is, and viceversa. In this latter case the ball and line would be thrown over thehorses instead of from them, as illustrated. Should the line thrown beinsufficiently strong to support the strain to which it would probablybe subjected after it has been secured by the persons in danger, alarger line or rope could be attached to the first and be drawn up bythe parties exposed. Should it be desired to reach more than one point,any number oflines which may be prepared could be thrown by removing thecan containing the line first thrown and replacing it by another.

Seats could be arranged on the frame for the entire crew needed tomanage the apparatus, which need. consist of but three men one driverand two to manage the apparatus. It is believed that such a crew, withvery little practice, would become so skillful that within three minutesof its arrival at the scene of danger it could throw a line into anyspecified window or aperture ot'any building, or over any building orvessel whose occupant-s might be in danger, and thus provide for them ameans of escape.

I claim- 1. The combination, with the wheel-frame A, provided withleveling-screws B, of the sector-wheels H, crank-shaft G, axle I,gearing F F, dogs ac, and springs K, carrying cup M, substan tiall y asdescribed, and for the purpose set forth.

2. lhe combination of the gearing F, the sector-wheels H, and thesprings K, with the hook O, the nippers P, the funnel U, and theWindlass S, all substantially as set forth.

PHILIP \V. GLAYPOOL.

\Vitnesses:

MIoHAEL B. McGRAW, MARTIN DE MoULPrEn.

